Film spool-holding means



March 3, 1953 M. N. FAIRBANK FLM sPooL-HOLDING MEANS Original Filed May 13. 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET l March 3, 1953 M N, FAlRBANK 2,630,050

FILM SPOOL-HOLDING MEANS Original Filed Mafy 13. 1948 2 SHEETS-'SHEET 2 @muy Patented Mar. 3, 1,953

UNITED STATES PTNT QEEICE Original application May 13, 1948, Serial No.

26,800, now Patent No. 2,538,511, dated January 16, 1951. Divided and this application April 2 1, 1950, Serial No. 157,280

This invention relates to photography and more particularly to novel photographic apparatus which is an improvement over that shown in latent No. 2,435,717, which patent shows a photophotosensitive sheet such as a commercial silver halide photosensitive film, means for exposing sequential areas of the photosensitive film and means for processing the exposed silver halide graphic apparatus, such as `a camera, wherein 5 area to at least develop a negative image therein, negative and positive sheets may be separately by spreading a processing liquid between the exinounted in the camera, and negative and positive posed area and another sheet also supplied by the images be concurrently produced in the tivo camera. This second sheet preferably supports sheets by bringing said tWo sheets into face-toa plurality of liquid-carrying containers at spaced. face relation and releasing a liquid from one of intervals on one surface thereof, this surface besaid sheets and spreading said liquid between the ing brought into face-to-face relation With the tivo sheets. exposed image area of the silver halide photo- This application is a division of :ny copending sensitive lro. and the processing being accomapgolioaton, Serial No. 26,800, filed May 13, 1%8, plished by passing the thus superposed film and fo Photographic Apparatus, now Patent No. sheet between a pair of pressure rolls carried by 2,533,511 issued January 16, 1951.. the camera to cause the release and spreading of A principal object of the present invention is the liquid between corresponding areas of the nlm to provide improved means for mounting a spool and sheet. The above processing preferably procarrying'a roll oi photosensitive sheet. duces a positive image on the second sheet and Another object o the invention is to provide a this latter sheet is hereinafter referred to as a mounting means which permits easy loading and positive image-receiving sheet. The present inremoval of a spool of phctosensitive film. vention is more particularly directed to improve These and other objects of the invention will ments in the means for holding the spooloi photoin part e obvious and will in part appear hereinsensitive nlm. These improvements are accomaiter. plished by several features or" the invention in- Tiie invention accordingly comprises the appavolving the positioningr of the spool-holding means ratus possessing the construction, combination of and the Construction thereof hereinafter deeleznents and arrangement of parts which are scribed.

in the following detailed disclosure, ln the preferred form of camera embodying the the scope of the application of which will be present invention, there is preferably included a in the claims. front housing carrying a lens and shutter assema fuller understanding oi the nature and bly, a rear housing and a partition member be'- oe, oi the invention, reference should be had tveen these housings, the partition member being following detailed description taken in conpreferably hinged to the front housing. The parin with the accompanying drawings Wheretitien member defines an expos .re chamber with the iront housing and derlnes a dark chamber 'e l is a diagrammatic fragmentary secwith the rear housing. The two housing memoi one preferred embodiment of the bers preferably provide a positive sheet-holding invention shown in the form of a hand-held Chamber between portions thereof. A pair of same-ra, the right-hand portion of Fig. 1 being lo processing means, preferably a pair 0f pressure ,3, Sooner, along line l-l of Fig. 2 and the leftrolls, are included in the camera, one of the rolls hand portion of Fig, l being a section along the being preferably carried by an end o1" the particenter of the camera; tion niernoer and the other being preferably 2 is a sectional view of Fig. l taken along carried the rear housing. A portion of the the line 2 2; 45 front housing is preferably enlarged to provide a. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the Space within which the Spool or" iGhOtOSSIlStil/'e f ig. l with the rear housing removed nini may be positioned. A spool holder is prothe partition member swung partially open vided on the partition member and so holds the the spool partially inserted in 'use holder; spool therein that, upon movement of the partiand 5,0 tion into operative relationship with the front wig. e is a plan view of the spool holder and parhousing, the Spool iS positioned within the space moe member looking in the section i-e' of formed by the enlarged portion 0f the front hous- 3, wit-ie the slm spool removed. ins. The Spool hol-Iier preferably comprises a in general, this invention relates to cameras of Ueshaped. member hal/mg bfmflt legs and a the type comprising means for holding a roll of connecting yoke secured to the partition member.

front housing i2.

Each of said bifurcated legs preferably comprises a pair of coplanar arms defining therebetween a slot having a widened circular portion in which the spindle of the spool may be held. The plane of the two arms of a pair is preferably normal to the spool axis and normal to the plane of the partition member while the connecting yoke is parallel to the plane of the partition member. This yoke is preferably so related to the partition member as to increase the resilience of one of the arms of each pair. Thus, when the spindle is inserted in the slot between these two arms, one of the arms is readily moved within its plane until the spindle reaches the widened circular portion of the slot, allowing the arm to move back to its original position and thus to lock the spool in place.

Referring now to Fig. l there is shown one preferred form of the invention as embodied in a hand-held camera. In this gure, lil represents the camera generally, the cameral being shown as comprising a front housing I2, a rear housing iii and a partition member or spool holder supporting base i6, hingedly connected at l5 to front housing i2. The front housing supports a usual bellows i8 carrying a lens and shutter assembly schematically indicated at 2i). For dening an exposure opening there is provided a hole 22 in Behind opening 22 there is positioned a backing plate 24 carried by the partition i6, the backing plate holding an area of a photosensitive film 26 in the focal plane of the camera. At one end of front housing l2 there is provided an enlarged portion defining a space t3 in which a spool Sil carrying the nlm may be positioned. At the other end of the iront housing is a second enlarged portion defining a space 32 in which a coil of a receiving sheet 34 may be positioned.

For holding spool 30 there is provided a spool holder indicated generally at 36, this holder preferably comprising a U-shaped element having a yoke and two spool-end-engaging legs, one leg for each end of the spool. Reference to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, where like numbers refer to like elements, is helpful in an understanding of the construction shown. Each spool-engaging leg is preferably normal to partition i6 and comprises two coplanar arms indicated at 3E and Iii. A slot between these arms is deiined by facing edges of the arms 38 and 40, these being indicated at 42. #lil and iii Edges 42 are substantially parallel, edges dii are circular and edges 45 taper away from each other. The top portions 4l of arms 3S and it preferably define a wedge for guiding z a spindle it of spool S@ into position (see Fig. 3),

to be forced down into the slot defined by edges :i2 until the spindle reaches the circular portion of the slot defined by edges 44. Arms 33 and lill are preferably formed from a single sheetof metal having a connecting yoke liS with which arms 3S and @iii are integrally connected. Yoke i8 preferably is parallel to partition le and that part dta thereof, carrying arm d0, is spaced frompartition i6. This spacing is accomplished, in the preferred construction, by providing a ridge il on the surface or" partition i3. As seen best in 1 Fig. 4, ridge till is preferably T-shaped, the leg f of the i' being shown at 50a. The major portion of the yoke d is fixedly secured to the upper surthereto.

exerted on arm 4D. The outwardly tapering slot i5 between two arms 38 and provides a relatively wide transverse area of yoke portion fic which is capable of iiexing over a large area, thereby having considerable lexiblity. This arrangement permits the spool holder to be made of a relatively heavy stock, to provide the necessary structural rigidity, while permitting suiiicient iiexibility of portions thereof to provide for easy insertion and removal of the spool. A pair of slots "i9 (see Fig. 4), extending partially across yoke llt, isolate the two portions d8a, supporting arms d, `from the central portion of the yoke secured to ridge 56a. to facilitate the flexing of the unsupported portions Wa of the yoke. The areas separating unsupported yoke portions 43a from the remainder of yoke d8 may be termed areas of flexure.

As can be seen more clearly from Fig. 2, each of arms 38 and 4b preferably has an inclined intermediate portion 52 which lholds upper portions of each arm in a plane spaced inwardly of the plane of the lower portions. This spacing decreases the area of these arms which can contact the flange on the spool and accurately positions the spool transversely of the camera. Arm 33 of the spool holder also preferably includes a means for supporting the photosensitive layer as it is unrolled from the spool. In a preferred form, this supporting means comprises a roll 56 which is suitably secured to the spool holder, such as by means of a pair of forwardly extending arms shown at 54 which engage one end of roll 56 and maintain the roll 56 xed with respect to the focal plane when the partition i6 is in its close position. Roll 56 guides the photosensitive nlm into the focal plane of the camera at such an angle that back tension on the film does not rock the backing plate 24.

For accomplishing the processing of the exposed area of photosensitive film 26 there is provided a processing means shown, in a preferred form, as comprising a pair of pressure rolls 5S `and tti. Roll 58 is carried by a pair of arms 62 supported by a hinge S4 secured to partition it.

Roll Ell is preferably carried by a Support et se- 1 cured to rear cover lli. For applying a resilient load to rolls Sii- 6e there is preferably provided a pressure member S8 bearing on arms $2 and under a spring pressure due to a spring is. A preferred form of receiving sheet 36 includes a container 72 on one surface thereof, this container carrying a processing liquid 'i4 therein,

. this liquid being preferably viscous and compris- .ing an alkaline aqueous solution of a developer, a

film-forming material and a silver halide solvent.

When this viscous liquid is released and spread between the nlm and receiving sheet it laminates these two elements together and concurrently forms a negative in the nlm and a positive on the receiving sheet. This processing takes place in the dark chamber defined by the rear housing id and the partition member i6. For permitting access to the dark chamber to remove the finished positive there is provided a door l. When the door is opened a light seal blade iii prevents passage of iight to the pressure roll portion of the camera. For guiding the nlm in the dark charnber there is included a pair of tabs 86 stamped out 01"' partition l and bent perpendicularly As can be seen best in Fig. 4, a portion of the yoke itof the spool holder covers the hole left by punching out the tab 60 and thus prevents light from passing to unexpcsed film when the door 'i6 is opened. Suitable other light seals and latches are provided for maintaining the lighttightness o the camera interior.

In the use of the camera described above, the rear housing iii is swung open, thus allowing the partition E to be swung open as shown in Fig. 3. The spool S is then placed in the spool holder by placing the spindle it adjacent one of the tapered edges il and pushing the spool towards the partition le, the tapered edge guiding the spindle into the slot defined by the two edges 42. As the spindle enters the slot it, being wider than the slot, forces arm liti to the right, rotat-` ing it around the unsupported portion flac of yoke d8, this movement of arm de being shown most clearly in Fig. 3. As the spindle d6 passes through the slot i2 and reaches the circular slot dened by edges fifi, arm 4t swings back to its original position, thus locking the spool in place. A leader portion of the ilm is then led across roll 55, across backing plate 2li, placed between the two arms $2 and led around pressure roll 53 carried by arms 62. The partition member i6 is then swung to the position shown in Fig. 1, the spool of nlm occupying the space 28 therefor. The coil of receiving sheet is now placed in the cylindrical space 32 therefor and a leader portion of the receiving sheet, preferably secured to the lm leader, is aligned with the nlm leader, these two leaders being fed along the back of partition iS, between tabs 39, carried by the partition, and past the right-hand end of the camera. The rear housing is now swung to closed position, thus forming the dark chamber with the partition, bringing roll 5e into operative relationship with roll 5B, and forming a mouth 32 with the front housing, the leader portions of the iilm and vsheet extending through the mouth 82.

An unexposed frame of nlm 25 is now moved to exposure position behind opening 22, a corresponding area of receiving sheet being advanced so as to be superposable with the exposed film area, the proper position of these areas being preferably accomplished by a stop of the type shown in my copending application, Serial No. 15,138, led March 16, 1948, now Patent No. 2,543,159. After exposure the two I'sheets are advanced, the container 'l2 preceding the exposed nlm area and the corresponding receiving sheet area between the pressure rolls, these rolls, releasing liquid 'I4 from the container and spreading it uniformly between these two areas to laminate these areas together and to develop the abovedescribed negative and positive images. At the conclusion of the processing, after about a minute, the door l is opened and that portion of receiving sheet Se containing the positive image is separated from the lamination, this separation being preferably aided by perforations surrounding the positive image area. This processing movement preferably moves the succeeding lm area into exposure position and this succeeding area may be processed, after exposure, by pulling those portions of the preceding nlm and receiving sheet extending from mouth Si.

While a preferred construction of film-holding means, having numerous advantages of simplicity and cheapness of manufacture, has been shown, a number of modications thereof are feasible within the scope of the invention. For example, ridge 5t on partition it can be a washer or other spacing means. Equally, ridge 5o can be eliminated if the portion lilla of yoke Att is in a higher plane than the remainder of yoke 133. Such a modification of the invention may be accomplished, for example, by bending the portion 48a of yoke 43 upwardly or by forming yoke 45 of two .separate pieces, the portion 48a being placed over the other portion. Equally, partition iii may be dished out so as to leave a space below the yoke portion 4ta to permit bending of portion 48a. Similarly, the ridge 5t can extend under the center line of yoke 48, thus allowing both arms 33 and it to be bent to the side. Equally, the left side of yoke 48 can be unsupported, thus allowing left arm 3S to move while arm 4t remains stationary. For ease of assembly, yoke t8 extends completely between the two pairs of arms 38 and liti. However, this yoke may comprise two separate pieces, one for supporting each pair of arms, in which case that portion of the yoke 4t between the two slots 49 can be elimihated.

Since certain changes may be made in the above apparatus without departing from the scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In a photographic device, a .supporting partition mounted in said device, and means securek to said partition for holding a spool of photosensitive iilrn, said spool-holding means comprising a pair of coplanar .arms for engaging one end of said spool, the plane of said arms being normal to the spool axis, and a second pair of coplanar arms for engaging the other end of said spool, the plane or" said second pair of arms being substantially parallel to the plane of said first pair of arms, one arm of each pair being mounted for resilient movement in the plane thereof with respect to the other arm of the pair and said partition, said resilient mounting comprising a portion integral with both arms of a pair and substantially normal to the plane of said said portion being secured to said partition so that a part thereof is spaced from said partition and free to move towards said partition, .said free part carrying said resiliently mounted arm.

2. In a photographic device, a supporting partition mounted in said device, and means secured to said partition for holding a spool of photosensitive nlm, said spool-holding means comprising a substantially rectangulai- U-shaped member having biurcated arms and a connecting yoke secured to said partition, a portion of said yoke parallel to partition vbeing spaced from and free for rotation towards said partition, said partition having a ridge extending above the plane of said partition, said yoke being secured to said ridge so that 'said free portion thereof overhangs a transverse edge of said ridge.

3. In a photographic device, a supporting base mounted in said device, and means secured to lsaid base for holding a spool of photoscnsitive nlm, said spool-holding inea-ns comprising a pair of arms substantially normal to said base for en gaging one end of said spool, and a member extending parallel to said oase for supporting said arms, a portion of said member being secured to said base and another portion .of said member being spaced from said base to permit movement of said latter portion towards said base, that arm of said pair connected to said last-named portion being movable with respect to the other Aarm of the pair due to said arrangement of elements, facing edges of said two arms defining a lslot therebetween, a portion of .said slot being circular and having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of a spindle on said spool, portions of said slot above and below said circular portion being narrower than said diameter.

in a photographic device, means for holding a spool of photosensitive nlm, said spool-holding means comprising a pair of arms for engaging one end of said spool and a second pair of arms for engaging the other end of said spool, one of said arms of each pair being mounted for resilient movement with respect to the other arm of the pair, one arm of each pair including means for supporting a film-guiding roll.

5. ln a photographic device, means for holdn ing a spool of photosensitive film, said spoolholding means comprising a pair of arms for engaging one end of said spool, a second pair of arms for engaging the other end of said spool, one of said arms of each pair being mounted for re silient movement with respect to the other arm of the pair, one arm oi each pair including means for supporting a film-guiding roll, and a 'hlmguiding roll supported by said last-named arms.

6. ln a photographic device, a flat supporting base mounted in said device, and means secured to said base .for holding a spool of photosensitive nlm, said spool-holding means comprising a pair of coplanar arms for engaging one end of said spool, the plane or said arms being normal to the spool axis, and a second pair of coplanar armsI for engaging the other end of said spool, the plane of said second pair of arms being substantially parallel to the plane of said nrst pair of arms, one arm of each pair being mounted for resilient movement in the plane thereof with respect to the other' arm of the pair and said base, said resilient mounting comprising a yoke integral with both arms of a pair and substantially normal to the plane of said arms, said yoke being secured to said base so that parts of said yoke are spaced from said base, said spacing being effected by a pair of slots ex- ,ending partially across said yoke in a direction normal to said spool axis whereby said spaced parts are free to move towards said base, said spaced parts carrying said resiliently mounted arms.

7. In a camera comprising a front housing and a member dening an exposure chamber with said front housing, the combination there with of means, secured to that side of said member nearest said front housing, for holding a spool of photosensitive film, said spool-holding means comprising a pair of substantially copla-nar arms for engaging one end of said spool, the plane of said arms being normal to the spool axis, and a second pair of substantially copianar arms 'for engaging the other end of said spool, the plane of said second pair of arms being substantially parallel to the plane oi said first pair of arms, one arm of each pair being mounted for resilient movement in the plane thereof with respect to the other arm of the pair and said member, said resilient mounting comprising a yoke affixed to both arms of both pairs and extending substantially perpendicularly to the planes of said arms, said yoke being secured to said member so that parts of said yoke are spaced from said member, said spaced parts being affixed to said resiliently mounted arms.

S. In a camera comprising a front housing, a member dening an exposure chamber with said front housing, and an exposure openingvin said front housing, said exposure opening having a focal plane within said exposure chamber, the combination therewith of means, secured to that side of said member forming an inner Wall of said exposure chamber', for holding a spool of photosensitive nlm, said spool-holding means comprising a pair of coplanar arms for engaging one end of said spool, the plane of said arms being normal to the spool axis, and a second pair of coplanar arms for engaging the other end of said spool, the plane of said second pair of arms being substantially parallel to the plane of said :first pair of arms, one arm of each pair including means for supporting a film-guiding roll, that surface of Said film-guiding roll farthest from said member being in substantial tangentiality with said focal plane, one arm of each pair being mounted for resilient movement in the plane thereof with respect to the other arm of the pair and said member, said resilient mounting comprising a yoke integral with both arms of both pairs and substantially normal to the planes of said arms, said yoke being secured to said member so that parts of said yoke are spaced from said member, said spacing being effected by a pair of slots extending partially across said :yoke in a direction normal to said spool axis 4whereby said spaced parts are free to move to- Wards said member, said spaced parts carrying said resiliently mounted arms.

9. In a camera comprising a iront housing, a member dening an exposure chamber With said .front housing, and an exposure opening in said :front housing, said exposure opening having a focal plane Within said exposure chamber, the combination therewith of means, secured to that side of said member forming an inner wall of said exposure chamber, for holding a spool of photosensitive nlm, said spool-holding means comprising a pair of coplanar arms for engaging one end of said spool, the plane of said arms being normal to the spool axis, a second pair of coplanar arms for engaging the other end of said spool, the plane of said second pair of arms being substantially parallel to the plane of said first pair of arms, one arm of each pair including means for supporting a lhlm-guiding roll, that surface of said film-guiding roll farthest from said member being in substantial tangentiality with said focal plane, and a filmguiding roll supported by said last-named arms, one arm of each pair being mounted for resilient movement in the plane thereof with respect to the other arm of the pair and said member, said resilient mounting comprising a yoke integral with both arms of both pairs and substantially normal to the planes of said arms, said yoke being secured to said member so that parts of said yoke are spaced from said member, said spacing being effected by a pair of slots extending partially across said yoke in a direction normal to said spool axis Whereb37 said spaced parte are free to move towards said member, said spaced parts carrying said resiliently mounted arms.

l0. In a camera comprising a front housing member and another member defining an exposure chamber with said front housing member, the combination therewith of means, secured to that surface of one of said members adjacent the other of said members, for holding a spool of photosensitive said spool-holding means comprising a pair of substantially coplanar arms for engaging a spindle on one end of said spool, the plane of said arms being substantially normal to the spool axis, and a second pair of substantially coplanar arms for engaging a spindle on the other end of said spool, the plane of said second pair of arms being substantially parallel to the plane of said rst pair of arms, one arm of each pair being mounted for resilient movement substantially in the plane thereof with respect to the other arm of the pair and with respect to that surface of the member to which said spool-holding means is secured, said resilient mounting comprising a yoke aiiixed to both arms of both pairs and extending substantially normal to the planes of said arms, said yoke being secured to said surface with parts of said yoke being spaced from said surface, said one arm of each pair being aixed to one each of said parts, said yoke havingr a pair of slots, each o which extends through an edge of said yoke, said slots deiining portions of the boundaries of said parts whereby said parts are free to move toward and away from said surface.

11. In a camera comprising a front housing member and another member defining an exposure chamber with said front housing member, the combination therewith of means, secured to that surface of one of said members adjacent the other of said members, for holding a spool of photosensitive nlm, said spool-holding means comprising a pair of coplanar arms for engaging a spindle on one end of said spool, the plane of said arms being normal to the spool axis, and a second pair of coplanar arms for engaging a spindle on the other end of said spool, the plane of said second pair of arms being substantially parallel to the plane of said rst pair of arms, one arm of each pair being mounted for resilient movement in the plane thereof with respect to the other arm of the pair and with respect to that surface of the member to which said spool-holding means is secured, said resilient mounting comprising an element integral with both arms of a pair and substantially normal to the plane of said arms, said element being secured to said surface so that parts of said element are spaced from said surface Whereby said spaced parts are free to move towards said surface, said spaced parts carrying said resiliently mounted arms.

12. A spool holder for a spool which rotates on a spindle, said spool holder comprising a resilient integral sheet metal member having a substantially nat yoke, a first leg at one end of said yoke extending in a plane perpendicular to said plane of said yoke and a second substantially similar leg extending from the opposite end of said yoke in a direction parallel to that of said iirst leg, each leg being split by a relatively narrow slot to form a pair of arms lying substantially in the same plane, the slot between the arms of said rst leg and the slot between the arms of said second leg lying substantially in a plane which is perpendicular both to the plane of said yoke and t0 the ends of said yoke, said plane of said slots intersecting said yoke at areas of flexure, the slot between the arms of said rst leg and the slot between the arms of said second leg having aligned, relatively enlarged openings intermediate their ends, said enlarged openings being adapted to receive the ends of said spindle whereby when the ends of said spindle are forced into said slots the arms of each leg pivot from each other, the yoke flexing at the areas of flexure, said arms locking said spindle in position when the ends of said spindle contact the edges of said enlarged openings.

13. The spool holder of claim 12 and a base plate for said spool holder, a spacing element on said base plate for supporting said holder, said yoke having a rst portion contacting said spacing element and a second portion spaced from said spacing element and from said base plate, an area of iiexure of said yoke lying between said rst and second portions whereby said second portion of said yoke is free to pivot with respect to said first portion of said yoke.

14. The spool holder of claim 13 wherein said second portion is separated from said iirst portion by a slot which extends from one edge of said yoke! to an area of iiexure.

MURRY N. FAIRBANK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 399,921 Norton Mar. 19, 1889 665,691 Mosher Jan. 8, 1901 1,567,499 Grandjean Dec. 29, 1925 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 223,464 Germany June 25, 1910 

